CPT code 31574: Vocal fold injection, flexible scope, unilateral2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $901.82 for 31574 nationally in the office and $129.26 in a hospital or facility. Local office rates run $781.69–$1,263.26.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 31574 covers

An otolaryngologist or laryngologist passes a flexible laryngoscope to visualize the vocal folds and injects material to add bulk to one fold. This is commonly performed for glottic insufficiency, such as when vocal fold paralysis, paresis, or atrophy leaves an incomplete closure affecting voice or airway protection. The procedure may be performed in an office or facility, using an approach such as transoral or percutaneous injection.

Report this code for augmentation of one vocal fold under flexible endoscopic guidance, not for a diagnostic examination alone or an injection with a different therapeutic purpose. The record should identify the treated side, indication, injection approach, and augmentation performed. For bilateral treatment, CMS pays with modifier 50 at 150%. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 31574 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

31574 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 31574 rate is calculated

Each of 31574’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 31574

The CMS indicators that decide how 31574 is paid alongside other services.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 50

31574 compared with similar codes

How to choose

31570Vocal fold injectionDirect, without optical magnification

This code uses flexible laryngoscopy for vocal fold augmentation. Code 31570 uses direct laryngoscopy with injection.

31571Vocal fold injectionMicroscope or telescope

This code is performed with flexible endoscopic guidance. Code 31571 uses direct laryngoscopy with injection and optical magnification.

31573LaryngoscopyTherapeutic injection

Choose this code for augmentation intended to add vocal fold bulk. Code 31573 is for flexible laryngoscopy with a therapeutic injection, such as chemodenervation.

31591LaryngoplastyUnilateral medialization

This code describes injection augmentation under flexible endoscopic guidance. Code 31591 describes medialization laryngoplasty, a surgical procedure rather than an injection.

Codes related to 31574

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates